Markings on wheels NOT tyres

[_Stretchie_]

OMO, please give me the benefit of your wisdom.

As per my other thread, I have a new bike, a 2010 Sukida SK125-5 Patriot.

I am trying to find out for sure what my options are for tyres as I would like some decent rubber holding me to the tarmac instead of the no name plastic that is currently on them, but never having had a small CC bike I am unsure of the use of tubed/tubeless tyres.

There are casting marks on the wheels (I am talking about the markings on the wheels NOT the tyres) that I would like to understand.

The wheels are a five spoke alloy and CMPO (http://www.chinesemotorcyclepartsonline.co.uk/index.php), a supplier of parts for these bikes, say I can fit tubed or tubeless tyres to the wheels but I would prefer a second opinion.

Front wheel has cast around the outside:
MAX1290N (No idea what this means)
1.6x18 (I guess this is the wheel width in inches x the diameter, it is an 18" wheel)
FUJI (No idea what this means)

And on one of the spokes, it is a five spoke alloy wheel, is cast:
W-2 (No idea what this means):


The tyre sizes are a bit weird too, imperial on the front (2.75-18 tubed) and metric on the rear (110/90-16 tubeless).

I have found a pair of Metzelers, ME22 (front) and ME77 (rear), Metzeler say these tyres are matched and recommend them as a pair but I don't know if it is the wheel itself or the tyre that dictates whether it should be tubed or not.

What do you guys think?


Cheers

[Tomor]

Front wheel has cast around the outside:
MAX1290N (No idea what this means) Maximum weight 1290 kgs, these things are built like brick sh*t houses
1.6x18 (I guess this is the wheel width in inches x the diameter, it is an 18" wheel) The length and girth (in that order) of the guy who made the wheel
FUJI (No idea what this means) A mountain in Japan. Their way of making the bike a bit more japanese so people buy them.

And on one of the spokes, it is a five spoke alloy wheel, is cast:
W-2 (No idea what this means): Wheel 2, this is the second fron one its had after the first one rusted through.


The tyre sizes are a bit weird too, imperial on the front (2.75-18 tubed) and metric on the rear (110/90-16 tubeless).

I have found a pair of Metzelers, ME22 (front) and ME77 (rear), Metzeler say these tyres are matched and recommend them as a pair but I don't know if it is the wheel itself or the tyre that dictates whether it should be tubed or not.

What do you guys think? Why did you buy a chinese bike if you didn't want a project....


Cheers

Thanks what I think anyway :)

[DJ123]

These look to have some answers:


http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/tire-tyre-guide/Tire-TyreTech.htm


http://www.motoress.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=707&c=technique

[Bibio]

tubeless wheels all have a flat area for the valve.

[_Stretchie_]

Timor, that was believable for a bit :)

These look to have some answers:


http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/tire-tyre-guide/Tire-TyreTech.htm


http://www.motoress.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=707&c=technique

Cheers ears but it's the markings on the wheel itself I'm interested in not the size/load/speed on the tyre

[Red ones]

Isn't 2.75 x 18 a mountain bike tyre?

[yorkie_chris]

Thanks what I think anyway :)

1290N would be 129kg, maybe more sensible!

[atassiedevil]

According to the specs here... http://www.motorbikespecs.net/index.dyn/Aaron%20Lancaster?flag=2&model_id=5842032&make=Chinese%20Motorcycle

Those tyre sizes are correct

Front 2.75-18
Rear 110/90-16

I'd imagine the 1290N is either a manufacturers casting mark, or some reference to maximum weight on the wheel.

I've a superbyke RBP125 i am refurbing for the stepdaughter to use for work. Basically the same bike, so any questions...ask.

[_Stretchie_]

Well, I just want to know if it is ok and safe to put tubeless tyres on.

I CMPO, who seem to be the supplier of choice for parts for these bikes sells 2x tyres for the font and 2x for the back, it lists a tubed and a tubeless for the front, but when you go into the item they both show as tubed, the current front tyre is tubed, and they also list both rear tyres as tubed also, but the current rear is tubeless.

I just want to know if I can get the pair of Metzeler tubeless tyres and put them on without inner tubes.

[atassiedevil]

I'll check tonight what the superbyke has on it, and see if they're tubed or tubeless.
I would imagine tubless though, most of the bike is a direct rip of the CBR125, other than the engine.